The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-05
THE SCIENCE OF MEANNESS.
The System of Filming Working Girls
and Young Boys for Trivial Ofenses.
Female Employees in Chicago Stores Mulcted
in Sums Sufficient to Pay the Salaries of
Their Watchers--0ther Labor News.
specia, to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal

Bpecial to the Indianapolis Journal
SpRrNGFiELD ILL, April 4.-The report of the
Illinois State Board Of Labor Statistics, which
will soon be ready for distribution states that
the system OF exactine fines for delinauencies is
practically in vogue in all the large retail houses
of Chicago, and that In some instances it is
made so severe and oppressive as to deprive en-
ployes of the means of paying board bills. The
commissioners say that the rapid progress which
this system is making in Illinois is an occasion
for deep concern. The ining system was intro
duced to check absenteeism, but in every case it
has only exaggerated and increased
the evil. The first case investigated
deserving mention is an establishment doing
general merchandise business, and employing
eight hundred clerks Two hundred are adult
males, SIS adult females, 60 boys under fifteen
years of age, and IS girls under fifteen years of
ages. Cash girls" mostly under fourteen years
of age, state that they get but So week, and are
fined for every mistake for laughing, talking,
or for not flying around fast enough to suit the
hoor-walker." Fines cash girls range from
to 20 cents. Saeswomen are fined for various
offenses. One young lady had laughed and vas
fined Is cents. She said the amount of the fines
depended principally upon the foor-walkers, of
which there are about sixty. 1t is stated that
the foor-walkers are expected to fine employees
at least the amout Of their own salaries per week.
This is doubtless an exaggeration that has grown
up in the minds of employees: yet, one man told
the commissioner he had been discharged from
merchantile house as floor walker for not fn-
ing enough.
One young lady made out the following state
ment for the bureau: 1.-THE way in which the
employees are fined in some of our largest stores
has become outrageous [ will give you a few
facts that have come under my observation
during the time l have been in this store. One
young lady mas worked just two tbs during
which time she has been fined 95 cents, having
been fined from 10 to 20 cents each time for
errors ia sales-books. Another girl, who was
receiving but So per week, and paying 81 for
board and 60 cents week for car fare was fined
81 for one error in her sales book Another
girl was fined 25 cents for accidentally squeak
ing the door of a show case; another was fined
25 cents for eating piece of ice during very
was fined 20 cents for humming
while cleaning stock; another 80 cents for break
ing glass in picture frame which sells for 50
cents"
So far as factories are concerned, it was re-
vealed in this investigation that only females
are fined. Men will not stand it. The ining
system was found to De universal among the
hotels and restaurants of Chicago, and the in
vsstigation discloses the fact that the fines for
breakage range from two to four times the value
of the article broken.
A distressing state of things was found to ex-
list in the cloak factories. One manufacturer
told the commissioners that he had persistently
refused to employ girls that came from q rival
factory not only because of inferior workman
ship. but because of their moral character. He
sun young girls to prepare them for street walk
1rS.